18
“There’s nowhere to go but down,” Cora called out. “The sooner you accept it, the better.”
Liam threw her a look promising retribution as he prepared to do his penance.
Laughter bubbled up from Cora’s chest as she watched her disgruntled roommate climb into the dunk tank. She was going to enjoy this.
The annual Summer Carnival was in full swing at the Teens in Action center, and all the volunteers were busy at their posts. Cora had been a volunteer since she joined the police force, and every year she watched the center grow in leaps and bounds. The place used to be nothing more than an old furniture warehouse, but with a lot of help from the community, it was now a fully functioning recreation facility for disadvantaged youths.
Today, the outside parking lot was set up with a popcorn stand in one corner, a DJ blasting music in another and an entire line of fold-out tables brimming with party food donated by local businesses. There was a photo booth with outrageous costumes for people to snap pictures of themselves, and several volunteers stood at grills making hot dogs and hamburgers. More booths surrounded the parking lot with everything from jewelry making and henna painting to more traditional carnival games like target shooting and balloon darts. On the grass beyond the lot there was a giant Slip ’N Slide, a Sumo wrestling ring with blow-up suits and, of course, the dunk tank.
Cora grinned like the Cheshire cat as she watched Liam climb onto the swing-out bench above the tank full of muddy water. She had to admit, setting him up as the volunteer police officer for The Tank was worth the hours she’d had to spend with Finn at the gala. Especially since—though she’d never admit it to Liam—she’d actually enjoyed herself with Finn that night. He’d been sweet and funny and engaging, and once she got past his stuffy outer shell, she realized there was something about him she found appealing. Who knew? The details of the evening had faded, but she still remembered the banked heat in Finn’s eyes when he stood on her doorstep. She’d leaned into him as if there was some magnetic force drawing them together, and if her phone hadn’t rung at that exact moment, she might’ve even done something crazy. With Finn! Cora blushed. Luckily, it hadn’t gone anywhere. It would’ve been so awkward to face him afterward.
Some kids shouted encouragement at each other, drawing Cora’s attention back to Liam in the dunk tank. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a navy Providence Falls Police T-shirt. With his dark hair waving over his forehead, and his reluctant, bad-boy smirk, he somehow still managed to look like he’d just been plucked off the pages of GQ magazine. It wasn’t fair, really. How come he got the gorgeous-by-accident genes, and the rest of the lowly mortals had to put serious effort into looking that good? He wasn’t even trying.
“Try aiming next time,” a boy hollered, slapping his friend on the back. They were around thirteen years old, with oversize basketball shorts and the egos to match. Most of the kids attending the Summer Carnival today were regulars at the Teens in Action center. A lot of them just came for the free snacks, which was to be expected. For some of the kids, the food might be the only meal they got that day. Others used the recreation center as a landing spot after school so they could escape boredom or bad homelife situations. There was a gym with basketball hoops and donated sports equipment, a quiet library and study room for them to do their homework, and a main gathering hall with comfy chairs and game consoles. Many of the kids just lounged around and watched TV, hence the nickname “Teens Inaction” they gave the place, but Cora didn’t care. If it kept them off the streets, it was a win.
“Here, let me try,” a familiar voice said. “You’re going down, man!”
Cora recognized Billy Mac in the lineup of people waiting for the dunk tank. He was grinning ear to ear as he swaggered up to the table in his ratty T-shirt and scuffed tennis shoes. A deep sense of gratitude washed over Cora when she saw how carefree and happy he seemed. She usually only saw Billy on the streets. As the years passed, he’d begun to perfect that hard “street stare” with the vacant eyes and the blank face. But with her, he still remained open and engaged, and Cora was grateful for it. She really liked the kid, though she knew from experience it wasn’t good to get too attached to kids in his situation. Sometimes no matter how hard you tried, they just didn’t want to be helped. But every once in a while, she got Billy to visit Teens in Action. He needed to be around good role models, and Cora had a feeling if she played her cards just right, he might even have a future mentoring the younger kids. It was still too soon to tell, but she wouldn’t give up on him.
“Step on up, sir.” Arthur, a retired firefighter who often volunteered there, waved Billy over. Arthur was a laid-back old man with a ready laugh and an unending well of patience. He reminded Cora of Santa Claus, with his potbelly and bushy white beard, except instead of a red suit, he always wore denim overalls. He handed Billy three softballs for the dunk tank and said in a booming voice, “This is your chance to dunk one of Providence Falls’ finest!”
Cora threw Liam a look of exaggerated skepticism.
Liam just nodded smugly. Yep. That’s me. Providence Falls’ finest. She couldn’t help laughing. He was nothing, if not arrogant.
“Billy?” Liam feigned shock. “You wouldn’t!”
“Damned straight, I would.” Billy’s smile was full of mischievous glee. He stuck his tongue between his teeth, aimed and threw. The ball missed the target and bounced into the grass.
“Lame!” one of the kids in line yelled.
Undeterred, Billy lifted the second ball, squinted and let it fly. Another miss.
Liam gave an exaggerated yawn and slouched on the bench, which egged the kids on even more. They began hollering and cheering for Billy to hit the target.
On the third try, Billy hit the bull’s-eye with a satisfying thunk. The lever under Liam’s bench seat retracted, and he splashed into the tank, sending the kids into a frenzy of wild hoots and laughter.
“Oh, that’s tough,” Arthur boomed theatrically. “How’s the mud taste, Officer?”
Liam came up sputtering. He pointed at Billy with mock ferocity and said, “I’m going to hunt you down later, Billy Mac.”
“Great job, Billy,” Cora shouted, clapping. “You just made my day.”
Liam sluiced muddy water off his face. “I’m coming for you next, woman.”
“Hey, don’t blame me,” she said with wide-eyed innocence. “You said you’d do anything, remember?”
“Consider my debt paid.” He heaved his body out of the tank and resumed his perch on the bench again. “With interest.”
Billy sauntered over to Cora, his freckled face brimming with pride. “Man, that was sweet.”
Cora’s heart squeezed in her chest. In that moment he wasn’t the world-weary street kid trying to be tough, he was just a boy at a carnival having fun. She wanted to reach out and ruffle his hair, but she refrained. “You really got him, Billy. I owe you for that.”
“Yeah?” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. Aaand the swagger was back. “I knew you’d come around.”
Cora rolled her eyes. “I meant lunch, kid.”